Govt to ease entry of foreign observers

Govt to ease entry of foreign observers

JAKARTA (JP): The government pledged on Thursday to ease
immigration procedures for foreigners who will watch over the
June 7 general election, but warned them against favoring an
individual party or presidential candidate.

Minister of Justice Muladi said after a meeting with U.S.
Ambassador to Indonesia Stapleton Roy that foreign poll observers
deserved the special treatment because of their pivotal role
during the multiparty elections.

"Many parties have vowed to win, but many of them are not
prepared to concede a defeat. Those foreign observers will
prevent unexpected reactions to the election outcome from
happening," Muladi said as quoted by Antara.

Foreign observers will include several U.S. Congress members
and a monitoring team led by former U.S. president Jimmy Carter.

Muladi said although observers would not need to apply for
special visas, they would be subject to conditions. They govern
the ability to cooperate with local institutions such as the
National Elections Committee and a ban from assisting any parties
or presidential candidates.

"We won't hesitate to deport those who breach the conditions,"
Muladi warned.

Stapleton said the U.S. House of Representatives resolved to
send the election-monitoring team to ensure it was conducted in a
fair and free manner and met international standards. The
resolution, passed on Tuesday, also demanded the Indonesian
government recognize people's choices of party, president and
vice president.

The People's Consultative Assembly has arranged a series of
hearings with scholars from leading state universities for
exchanges of ideas on state policy guidelines for the 2000/2005
period.

The meetings with the Sumatra Utara University of Medan, North
Sumatra, Jakarta-based University of Indonesia, Diponegoro
University of Semarang, Airlangga University of Surabaya and
Hasanuddin University of Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, will start
on Tuesday.

Election-related violence continued on Thursday in Central
Java, with deputy chief of local United Development Party (PPP)
office Hendro Suyitno confirming a Wednesday night attack against
party members in Batang, about 60 kilometers east of the province
capital of Semarang.

Hendro said a group of unidentified people pelted with stones
a house where party followers were chanting holy verses. At least
30 people were injured in the incident. The attackers also set on
fire 10 motorcycles belonging to PPP members.

"We urge the police to investigate the case as soon as
possible and take stern measures against the barbaric people,"
Hendro told the Jakarta Post on Thursday.

Meanwhile, sporadic removal of Golkar Party banners continued
in the province. Secretary of the party's local office Sutoyo
Abadi said on Thursday at least 400 party banners in Semarang,
Kebumen and Magelang had reportedly vanished.

Sutoyo said some of the banners were set on fire.

No less than 2,000 Golkar banners hoisted across the province
have been stolen or damaged in the past three days, according to
Sutoyo. (har/amd)